Boiler-tube cleaner.



No. 783,517. PATENTED FEB.28,1905. H. L. GREENE & J. ZILLIOX. BOILERTUBE CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H I x m l g STATES Patented February 28, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY L. GREENE, OF ORCHARD PARK, AND JOHN ZILLIOX, OF BUFFALO, NEWYORK.

BOILEFWTUBE CLEANER SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.783,517, dated February 28, 1905.

Application filed April 25, 1904. Serial No. 204,899-

To (all whom, it Tit/t1 concern:

Be it known that we, HARRY L. GREENE, residing in Orchard Park, and JOHNZinLiox, residing in Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of NewYork, citizens of the United States, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Boiler-Tube Cleaners, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to a boiler tube cleaner designed to remove scaleor incrustations both from the inner and outer sides of such tubes.

The object of our invention is the construction of a simple andeffective tool of this character which can be cheaply produced.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure 1 is ahorizontal section of the cleaner, showing the same inserted in aboiler-tube. Fig. 2 is a similar View of the front portion of thecleaner at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of thedevice in line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the hammerof the cleaner. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the toothed head whichcooperates with the hammer. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevationof the hammer and a water-tube, on an enlarged scale, showing therelative arrangement of the cutting edges and the guard of the hammer instriking the tube. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing-amodified construction of the cleaner.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views.

Referring to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, A indicates awater or fire tube of a boiler. Bis a rotary cylindrical shellor casingforming the main inclosing member of the cleaner and constructed of theproper diameter to easily enter the boiler-tube. This casing is open atits front end and provided at its rear end with a reduced extension B,which is securely connected with the front end of a hollow shaft (3 by acoupling CD To the rear end of this shaft is secured a bevelpinion D,the hub of which turns in a bearing (2, formed in a handle orsupporting-frame E, thereby journaling the shaft in said frame by meansof the pinion. The latter meshes with a bevel-wheel F, secured to ashaftf, having a hand-crankf" for turning it. The shaft f is arranged atright angles to the hollow shaft C and supported in a bearing f carriedby a bracket f extending forwardly from the frame E. (Jr is a vibratinghammer, chisel, or scale-loosener, carried. by the rotary casing B andadapted to strike the interior of the boiler-tube at opposite sides fordetaching scale either from its inner or its outer side. The hub g ofthe hammer is arranged in the front portion of the casing B and pivotedthereto by a transverse pin g passing through the same and having itsends seated in openings formed in the sides of the casing, as shown inFig. 2. This hub is provided at or near its ends with a pair of lugs ortappets which are adapted to trip over an annu lar series of teeth orprojections 72/, arranged on a non-rotary cylindrical head H. This headis arranged in the rear portion of the rotary casing B and secured byany suitable fastening to a rod I, which passes through the extension Band the hollow shaft C, and is secured at its rear end to the frame E,so as to hold the toothed head from turning.

The actuating-tappets of the hammer are.

located on opposite sides of the hub and arranged to engage the teeth ofthe non-rotary head H on opposite sides of its axis. These teeth aremade in the form of ratchet-teeth and are of an odd number, so that thehigh portion of each tooth stands transversely in line with the lowestor base portion of the diametrically opposite tooth. By this construction the rotation of the casing-B and the hammer (1 relatively to thehead H causes the tappets g of the hammer to trip alternately over theabrupt faces of the teeth of said head, thereby rocking the hammer firstin one direction and then in the other and causing it to deliverpowerful blows against opposite sides of the boiler-tube. This action ofthe .two tappets is permitted by reason of the fact that at the momentone tappet is riding over the abrupt side of one of the teeth it theother tappet stands over the inclined back of the opposing tooth, thusallowing the last-mentioned tappet to swing toward the base of saidtooth without restraint until it encounters the abrupt face of the nexttooth, when it is swung in the opposite direction by the same. In thismanner the two tappets vibrate thehammer so long as the casing B isturned and the hammer is at the same time bodily rotated with thecasing, causing it to strike the boiler-tube around its entire circle.and gradually pushing the cleaner through the tube the hammer acts uponall sides and all portions of the inner surface thereof, detaching anyadhering scale or deposit therefrom and thoroughly cleaning it. Theabrupt front faces of the teeth H are preferably beveled slightly, so asto have a wedging action upon the tappets and improve the operation ofthe device. In order to permit the hammer to yield or accommodate itselfto irregularities of the boiler-tubes, the casing B and the head H arecapable of sliding length wise with reference to each other, and aspringor cushion J is applied to the rod I between a shoulder Z thereof, and ahollow adjustable plug L, which is preferably screwed into the outer endof the extension B and through which the rod passes loosely. Thisscrewplug is locked in position after adjustment by a jam-nut Z or othersuitable means. An adjustable stop-collar m, secured to the rod I andabutting against the plug L, limits the forward movement of the rod andthe toothed head H relatively to the casing B. The teeth It operate togive the hammer a full stroke in both directions, and the spring-J isstiff enough to resist longitudinal movement of the toothed head on thecasing B, or vice versa, under ordinary conditions. When, however, the hammer strikes a ridge or other inequality of the tube which prevents itfrom making a full stroke, the resistance of the spring is overcome, andeither the toothed head recedes from the tappets of the hammer or thehammer recedes from the toothed head, according as the handle E isallowed to slide rearwardly on the hub of the pinion D or is heldagainst rearward movement. Blocking of the hammer is thus prevented andall danger of breaking its tappets or the teeth of the head H isobviated. The hammer-head may be of any suitable construction, accordingto the work for which it is intended. If the tool is to be used fordetaching scale from the inside of a water-tube, the head N is providedwith suitable chisels or cutting edges, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and6; but if it is to be used for detaching scale from the exterior ofboiler or fire tubes the hammer-head N may be blunt, as shown in Fig. 7.\Vhen the hammer is provided with cutters, it is preferably conical ortapered forwardly and provided with a number of annular cutting edges a,as shown in Figs. 1, 2, L, and 6, the conical head having the properbevel to cause all of its cutting edges to penetrate the scale to aboutthe same depth, as shown in Fig. 6.

By thus turning the crank f in cleaning fire-tubes. The hammer-headmaybe removably secured to its shank, as shown, so that one or the otherkind of head may be applied to the same hammer.

Instead of rotating the vibrating hammer with reference to the toothedhead the head may be rotated relatively to the hammer, such a reversedarrangement being illustrated in Fig. 7. In this modification therelative arrangement of the casing B the toothed head H, and the pivotedhammer G is the same as in the first-described construction; but the rodI instead of bein non-rotary is journaled in the screw-plug L and in abracket or support E and provided at its rear end with a handcrank 0.The bracket E is carried by a rod or tube P, arranged on one side of therod or shaft I and secured to the rear end of the casing. A handleextends from the outer end of the bracket for turning thesame and thecasing on the shaft 1' to cause the hammer to strike the inner surfaceof the boiler-tube on all sides. In the operation of this modifiedcleaner upon rotating the toothed head H by means of the crank 0 itsteeth are caused to engage the hammer-tappets alternately and vibratethe hammer.

In our improved cleaner the hammer is vibrated in both directions bypositive means and not by springs, and it therefore delivers uniform andeffective blows against opposite sides of the boiler-tube and is notliable to get out of order or become impaired in its action. Bydispensing with the use of springs for this purpose the construction ofthe tool is also materially simplified.

We claim as our invention 1. In a boiler-tube cleaner, the combinationwith a casing and a head having an annular row of projections, of meansfor rotating one of said members relatively to the other, and avibrating scaleloosener pivoted to said casing and having tappetsarranged on opposite sides of the axis of said head and extending intothe path of said projections, substantially as set forth.

2. In a boiler-tube cleaner, the combination with a casing and a headhaving an annular row of teeth each having an abrupt front face and aninclined back, the high portion of each tooth being located in line withthe low portion of the opposite tooth, means for rotating one of saidmembers relatively to the other, and a vibrating scale-loosener pivotedto said casing and having tappets arranged on opposite sides of the axisof said head and extending into the path of said projections,substantially as set forth.

3. In a boiler-tube cleaner, the combination with a casing and a headhaving an annular row of projections one of said members being capableof longitudinal movement relative to the other, a spring arranged toresist such longitudinal movement in the normal operation of thecleaner, means for rotating one of said members with reference to theother, and a vibrating scale-loosener pivoted to said casing and havingtap pets arranged on opposite sides of the axis of said head andextending into the path of said projections, substantially as set forth.

4. 'In a boiler-tube cleaner, the combination of a rotary casing, meansfor rotating the same, a non-rotary head having an annular row ofprojections, and a vibrating scale-loosener pivoted to said casing andhaving tappets arranged on opposite sides of the axis of said head andextending into the path of said projections, whereby the rotation of thecasing causes the tappets to trip over said teeth and at the same timecauses the scale-loosener to rotate and strike the boiler-tube on allsides of its bore, substantially as set forth.

5. In a boiler-tube cleaner, the combination of a rotary casing, meansfor rotating the same, a non-rotary head having an annular row ofprojections, and a vibrating scale-loosener having a hub which ispivoted to said casing and provided with tappets arranged on oppositesides of the axis of said head and located on different sides of thehub, said tappets extending into the path of said projections, substantially as set forth.

In a boiler-tube cleaner, the combination of a rotary casing, means forrotating the same, a non-rotary head arranged. in said casing andprovided at its front end with an annular row of teeth having abruptfront faces and inclined backs, and a vibrating scale-loosener pivotedto said casing and having a pair of tappets arranged on opposite sidesof the axis of said head and extending into the path of said teeth,substantially as set forth.

7. In a boilertube cleaner, the combination of a rotary casing, meansfor rotating the same, a non-rotary head having an annular row ofprojections, a vibrating scale-loosener pivoted to said casing andhaving tappets arranged on opposite sides of the axis of the head andextending into the path of said projections, said casing being capableof moving lengthwise on said head, and a spring arranged to resist suchlongitudinal movement of the casing, substantially as set forth.

8. In a boiler-tube cleaner, the combination of a supporting-frame, anon-rotary head having an annular row of teeth and a rod which connectsthe head with said frame, a rotary casing inclosing said toothed headand having a hollow shaft which is journaled in said frame and surroundssaid rod, means for tm'ning said shaft, and a vibrating scale-loosenerhaving tappets arranged on opposite sides of the axis of said head andextending into the path of said teeth, substantially as set forth.

9. In a boiler-tube cleaner, the combination of a supporting-frame, anon-rotary head having an annular row of teeth, a rotary casingsurrounding said head, capable of sliding lengthwise thereon andprovided at its rear end with an adjustable plug, means for rotatingsaid casing, a spring interposed between said head and said plug, and avibrating scaleloosener pivoted to said casing and having tappetsarranged on opposite sides of the axis of said head and extending intothe path of said teeth, substantially as set forth.

10. In a boiler-tube cleaner,the combination of a supporting-frame, anon-rotary head having an annular row of teeth and a rod which connectsthe head with said frame, a rotary casing surrounding said head, capableof sliding thereon and provided at its rear end with an adjustable plug,means for rotating said casing, a spring applied to said rod between ashoulder thereof and said plug, astop mounted on said rod and abuttingagainst said plug, and a vibrating scale-loosener having tappetsarranged on opposite sides of the axis of said head and extending intothe path of said teeth, substantially as set forth.

\Vitness our hands this 22d day of April,

HARRY L. GREENE. JOHN ZILLIOX. WVitnesses:

(J. F. GEYER, E. M. GRAHAM.

